Baby names: the Claire contingent

By LINDA ROSENKRANTZwww.nameberry.com

September 15, 2013 12:01 AM

By LINDA ROSENKRANTZwww.nameberry.com

September 15, 2013 12:01 AM

The crystalline clear classic Claire has seen an impressive rise -- entering the Top 50 baby names for the first time in 2011 -- and bringing Cousin Clara and other relatives along with her. Let's take a closer look at this family.

CLAIRE -- Currently favored spelling Claire was introduced to England by the Normans, but its modern use only dates back to the 19th century. Now at No. 45, Claire has risen more than 40 places since 2000, one of those solid "sweet spot" names that is familiar but distinctive, feminine but not frilly, popular yet immune to trendiness. Most prominent Claire at the moment is Emmy Award-winning "Homeland" star Claire Danes (mother of a son named Cyrus), while characters called Claire have appeared in movies and shows from "The Breakfast Club" to "Lost" to "Modern Family."

CLAIR -- This French spelling, less common here, was used for perfect mom Clair Huxtable in "The Cosby Show." Clair de Lune means moonlight, as in Debussy's immortal piano piece "Clair de Lune."

CLARE -- This is the streamlined English spelling of Clara -- the main English form used in the Middle Ages -- associated with the 13th century St. Clare of Assisi, a follower of St. Francis and founder, in 1212, of the benevolent Poor Clares order of nuns.

CLARA -- Clara, the original Latin name, has had a somewhat rougher road than Claire, having had to combat the image of an older woman, as seen in such characters as "David Copperfield's" nurse known as Peggotty and Aunt Clara on "Bewitched." Clara came into fashion in the 19th century and is prominent in Victorian literature.

CLARIBEL -- Claribel made her debut appearance in Shakespeare's "The Tempest" and is thought to have been invented by the Bard. But her reputation was severely compromised by her later depictions as Disney's Clarabelle Cow and Howdy Doody's cohort Clarabel the Clown.

CLARICE -- Clarice originated as another French variant of Clara in the 12th century and was fairly popular in the Middle Ages. The name took on some ominous overtones via its hissed elocution (accent on the EESE) by Hannibal Lecter in "The Silence of the Lambs."